“Wow! Look at that crowd. Just like the old days,” was one of the comments about the nineth annual Combined Men’s and Ladies’ Bonspiel hosted by the Vanderhoof Curling Club. There certainly was a crowd as, not counting spectators, there were 96 curlers in 24 teams competing to deliver rocks closest to the button for three simultaneous events on the ice over the weekend of Jan. 20 - 21.
The two dozen teams who took part were made up of twelve ladies’ teams, including four teams from Fort St. James and one from Fort Fraser, plus twelve men’s teams, included a team from Fraser Lake. All games were eight ends and teams had two hours to complete each game.
In full bonspiel tradition there was a banquet, concession and prizes and teams dressed up. This year costume theme was famous rock bands like the Beatles, ZZ Top and there was even an appearance by the all girl Zoo Pub Rockers, the Rebels and a gang of rock groupies too.
There was crazy curling fun with sweeping late into the early hours of the morning, but also very serious competition - each team vying for top spot. Here follow the results of the top two teams in each of ladies’ competition events. The last name of the skip as team names.
Ladies A event
1st: Team Haller
2nd: Team Ubleis
Ladies B event
1st: Team Campbell
2nd: Team Nelson
Ladies C event
1st: Team Stephen
2nd: Team Woodruff